Tag: measures

What Will Pipe Diameter Tape Measures look like in 2030?

Measuring Techniques
Measuring Techniques

There are distance measuring apps out there, but measuring the diameter of a pipe presents a unique measuring situation.

  • Calibration. There will need to be some way of checking to see if the app is working correctly. You will need to measure a known standard to see if the app is measuring right. If not, there needs to be some way of calibrating or adjusting the reading, to make it accurate. In other words, if you measure a 2 inch pipe, and the app says 2.1 inches, you need a way to adjust the setting to read 2.0 inches. Otherwise, when you measure a 3 inch pipe or any size pipe, the measurement would be off.
  • Calibration should be done with different sizes of pipe, to make sure you will get an accurate reading at any of those sizes.
  • The curvature of the pipe needs to be considered. You aren’t taking a picture of a 2D object. The pipe is 3D, so your camera may not see the top and bottom of the pipe as being 180 degrees away from each other. If you are too close to the pipe, you wouldn’t see the full 180 degrees. So your measurement would be too small.
  • Resolution of measuring. A pipe diameter tape measure normally has a resolution of 100th of an inch diameter. Can a smart phone app be that accurate?
  • The nearness of the object. For calibration, we would need some standard distance from the cell phone. Maybe this could be accomplished by using an object like a 12″ ruler, placed between the pipe and the phone. Hopefully, a less mechanical method will pop up.

If you know of an app that can accurately measure pipe diameter, please let me know. If one does not exist, I’m sure it will be invented in the near future.

Who Makes Diameter Tape Measures?

Lufkin Pipe Diameter Measuring Tape
Lufkin Pipe Diameter Measuring Tape

There are 4 main manufacturers of diameter tape measures.

  1. Lufkin® has a world-wide reputation for making high quality tape measures. They used to make them in the USA, but they have shifted the production facilities to Mexico. Some of the tapes are made out of a cast case, which is highly polished and chrome plated, like the w906pd. Others, like the w606pd have a stamped case, which is shiny and chrome plated.  A third type of case is black plastic, like the asw616pd. However, the tape blade inside is the same in all 3 types of cases. It is capable of measuring diameters up to 23 inches.
  2. Pi-Cobra is a brand name for diameter tapes made with

    Pi-Cobra Diameter Tape, Metric Pi-Cobra Diameter Tape, Metric

    a cast case which is chrome plated. It can hold a longer tape blade, capable of measuring diameters up to 38 inches. The case is very durable. These are manufactured in China.

  3. 24inch-od-tape
    24inch-od-tape

    Various other Chinese manufacturers make versatile OD tapes like the 416-04-024-P. The back side of the tape measures diameter up to 24″ in 100ths of an inch or 610 mm. The case is plastic, and has a key ring attached to it.

  4. The UT-56675 is made in the USA. It is capable of
    diameter-tapes-com
    diameter-tapes-com UT-56675

    measuring pipes up to 45 inches in diameter. This is a belt tape, not a pocket tape. The calibrations are in tenths of an inch diameter.

 

2017 Promotional Product of the Year Award by Advantage Advertising LLC

Advantage Advertising LLC (advantage-advertising.com) is proud to announce the Product of the Year 2017. The winner is:

The popular Barlow Chrome Tape Measure number 20217. Why this product? The Barlow tape is a household word in many USA homes. The Barlow brand has a proud history of quality. Simplicity in design makes for a long lasting product life. The dual scale, metric and inch, make it popular in any country. The smooth compact design makes it a great tape to keep in your pocket. Your company logo can easily be laser engraved on the front and back.

20217_Z.jpg 20217 Barlow Chrome Tape Measure

Who Uses A Pipe Diameter Tape Measure?

W616AC Diameter Tape Measure
W616AC Diameter Tape Measure

Most people never heard of a pipe diameter tape measure. But some people use them every day in their job. Who are these people?

  • Plumbers
  • Oil and gas drillers
  • Pipe fitters
  • Car Mechanics
  • Boat repair Mechanics
  • Water department workers
  • Oil line pipe repair men
  • Gas line pipe repair men
  • Tree people, arborists
  • Foresters
  • Tree nurserymen

    W906PDC Lufkin Pipe Diameter Tape
    W906PDC Lufkin Pipe Diameter Tape

Add A Pipe Diameter Measuring Tape To Your Toolbox

What's the diameter of this Pipeline?
What’s the diameter of this Pipeline?

Diameter tape measures are able to give you the diameter of a pipe, pipeline, log, or any other round object. They do it in 1 easy step. All you do is wrap the pipe diameter measuring tape around the pipe and read off the diameter. A regular tape measure would give you the circumference. Then you would have to divide by pi (3.14159). That adds another step, plus you would need a calculator, pencil, and paper to arrive at the diameter.

Why do you need a diameter tape in your toolbox?

  • To measure the diameter of a heater hose in your car, for replacement.
  • To measure the diameter of your round furnace ductwork, so you can extend it, or tap into it.

    Furnace ductwork in your home
    Furnace ductwork in your home
  • To find the diameter of a hose in your boat, so you can replace it. You can go buy the new hose without  removing the old one first.

    Pipes and hoses on your boat
    Pipes and hoses on your boat
  • To find the diameter of pipes or copper tubing, or plastic pipe in your house plumbing, so you can extend it, or add onto it.
5600 × 4200 – servicemaster
Pipes in your basement
Pipes in your basement